Monageer stay unbeaten
M’GEER-B’VOGUE 3-10 STARLIGHTS 1-10
MONAGEER-BOOLAVOGUE made it two wins from two in the Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior football championship thanks to a fine second-half performance against a stubborn Starlights second string in this Group B tie in Bree on Sunday.
After going in at the break trailing by three points and facing into the wind in the second-half, the eventual winners had it all to do.
But a consummate display from their defence and three goals made a telling difference as they completely dominated the second-half to take the points.
The Starlights enjoyed a greater share of the spoils in the opening half, with Anthony Larkin, Paul Byrne and Tommy Foley looking impressive up front, and they were well in control on the ten-minute mark when Dayle Donohoe turned his marker and raced inside to finish expertly to the roof of the net, giving them a five-point lead.
Monageer-Boolavogue began to rally back as Cathal Walsh traded scores with Anthony Larkin and then Tommy Foley, before corner-back Noel Rowsome burst forward for a well-taken score.
But the Starlights made the gap five at the break thanks to a tidy Paul Byrne effort.
This was increased to six within 20 seconds of the re-start when Anthony Larkin found the posts, but a crucial period took place over the next twelve minutes.
Firstly, Seán Roche and Matthew Dunne split the posts, before the former put the latter through on goal, only to be unceremoniously hauled down in the square, and the expert marksman finished to the net with aplomb.
His side then found themselves in front when Bertie Gahan was rewarded for taking on his marker, racing inside and finishing to the net, putting them ahead for the first time.
Sarlights weren’t going to give in easily, however, and Anthony Larkin and Dayle Donohoe clawed back scores as Mark Gahan kept Monageer-Boolavogue’s noses in front at the other end, before Matthew Dunne was rewarded with a second penalty but Garry Murphy did well to save.
Monageer-Boolavogue were now holding their opponents well, with their full-back line of Noel Rowsome, Ray O’Brien and Morgan Gahan to the fore, with the latter chipping in with a tidy score after making a long run forward.
They were now launching attacks at their opponents and amazingly, Dunne found himself pulled down in the square for a third time and made no mistake this time.
Monageer-Boolavogue: Niall Finn; Morgan Gahan (0-1), Ray O’Brien, Noel Rowsome (0-1); Micheál Gahan, Ger Daly Liam Gahan; Seán McCabe, Ian Hawkins; Mick Sweeney, Mark Walsh, Cathal Walsh (0-2, 1 free); Mark Gahan (0-3), Matthew Dunne (2-1, 2-0 pens., 0-1 free), Niall O’Reilly. Subs. - Bertie Gahan (1-1) for M. Walsh, inj. (29), Damien Fenlon for Micheál Gahan (HT), Seán Roche (0-1) for McCabe (HT), Shane Kehoe for B. Gahan (56).
Starlights: Garry Murphy; Craig Peare, Joe Cullen, Chris Doyle; Jack Doyle, Ed Tobin, Craig Foley; Jason Russell, Seán Breen; Anthony Larkin (0-6, 4 frees), Dayle Donohoe (1-1), Lee Jordan; Anthony Russell,Tommy Foley (0-2), Paul Byrne (0-1). Subs. - Lenny Connelly for Byrne (37), Eoin Quigley for Foley (42), John Ryan for Doyle (53), Will Doyle for Jordan (53), Nick Roche for Peare (58).
Referee: Brian O’Leary (Crossabeg-Ballymurn).